Health minister faces many challenges

From the commitment right out the gate to bring forward legislation on medically-assisted dying and to legalizing marijuana, Health Minister Jane Philpott is sailing into some strong headwinds. Add the negotiation of a new Health Accord, responding effectively to the horrific suicide epidemic in some indigenous communities and the plan to bulk buy prescription drugs, and she might regret having won her seat at all.

It is a good thing that the new health minister is a medical doctor. It is not so much for her medical knowledge as for the skill set that comes with being a family practitioner. Health Minister Jane Philpott strikes me as a steady hand, a calm, and competent person, capable of managing stress. Which is a good thing as her mandate letter is a catalogue of serious challenges. From the commitment right out the gate to bring forward

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